Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(14): 1076-1082
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-110225
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Gait Retraining From Rearfoot Strike to Forefoot Strike does not change Running Economy

Jenevieve Lynn Roper
1   Health and Human Sciences, Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, United States
,
Deborah Doerfler
2   Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, Division of Physical Therapy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, United States
,
Len Kravitz
3   Exercise, Health and Sports Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, United States
,
Janet S. Dufek
4   Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, United States
,
Christine Mermier
3   Exercise, Health and Sports Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 14 April 2017

Publication Date:
03 November 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Gait retraining is a method for management of patellofemoral pain, which is a common ailment among recreational runners. The present study investigated the effects of gait retraining from rearfoot strike to forefoot strike on running economy, heart rate, and respiratory exchange ratio immediately post-retraining and one-month post-retraining in recreational runners with patellofemoral pain. Knee pain was also measured. Sixteen participants (n=16) were randomly placed in the control (n=8) or experimental (n=8) group. A 10-minute treadmill RE test was performed by all subjects. The experimental group performed eight gait retraining running sessions where foot strike pattern was switched from rearfoot strike to forefoot strike, while the control group received no intervention. There were no significant differences for running economy (p=0.26), respiratory exchange ratio (p=0.258), or heart rate (p=0.248) between the groups. Knee pain reported on a visual analog scale was also significantly reduced (p<0.05) as a result of retraining. The present study demonstrates that retraining from rearfoot strike to forefoot strike did not affect running economy up to one-month post-retraining while reducing running-related patellofemoral pain.

Key words

foot strike pattern - knee pain - leg - oxygen consumption
 

  • References

  • 1 Altman AR, Davis IS. A kinematic method for footstrike pattern detection in barefoot and shod runners. Gait Posture 2012; 35: 298-300
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Bailey SP, Pate RR. Feasibility of improving running economy. Sports Med 1991; 12: 228-236
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Barton CJ, Levinger P, Menz HB, Webster KE. Kinematic gait characteristics associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A systematic review. Gait Posture 2009; 30: 405-416
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Cavanaugh PR, LaFortune MA. Ground reaction forces in distance running. J Biomech 1980; 13: 397-406
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Cunningham CB, Schilling N, Anders C, Carrier DR. The influence of foot posture on the cost of transport in humans. J Exp Biol 2010; 213: 790-797
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Daniels J. A physiologist’s view of running economy. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1985; 17: 332-338
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Daoud AI, Geissler GJ, Wang F, Saretsky J, Daoud YA, Lieberman DE. Foot strike and injury rates in endurance runners: A retrospective study. Med Sci Sport Exerc 2012; 44: 1325-1334
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Delgado TL, Kubera-Shelton E, Robb RR, Hickman R, Wallmann HW, Dufek JS. Effects of foot strike on low back posture, shock attenuation, and comfort in running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2013; 45: 490-496
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Divert C, Mornieux G, Baur H, Mayer F, Belli A. Mechanical comparison of barefoot and shod running. Int J Sports Med 2005; 26: 593-598
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Feller JA, Amis AA, Andrish JT, Arendt EA, Erasmus PJ, Powers CM. Surgical biomechanics of the patellofemoral joint. Arthroscopy 2007; 23: 542-553
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Giandolini M, Poupard T, Gimenez P, Horvais N, Millet GY, Morin JB, Samozino P. A simple field method to identify foot strike pattern during running. J Biomech 2014; 47: 1588-1593
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Goss DL, Goss MT. A review of mechanics and injury trends among various running styles. US Army Med Dep J 2012; 62-71
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Goss DL, Goss MT. A comparison of negative joint work and vertical ground reaction force loading rates in chi runners and rearfoot-striking runners. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013; 43: 685-692
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Gruber AH, Umberger BR, Braun B, Hamill J. Economy and rate of carbohydrate oxidation during running with rearfoot and forefoot strike patterns. J Appl Physiol 2013; 115: 194-201
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2016 update. Int J Sports Med 2015; 36: 1121-1124
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Hasegawa H, Yamauchi T, Kraemer WJ. Foot strike patterns of runners at the 15-km point during an elite-level half marathon. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 888-893
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Hatala KG, Dingwall HL, Wunderlich RE, Richmond BG. Variation in foot strike patterns during running among habitually barefoot populations. PLoS One 2013; 8: e52548 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052548
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Hayes P, Caplan N. Foot strike patterns and ground contact times during high-calibre middle-distance races. J Sports Sci 2012; 30: 1275-1283
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Heise GD, Smith JD, Martin PE. Lower extremity mechanical work during stance phase of running partially explains interindividual variability of metabolic power. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 1777-1785
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Kasmer ME, Liu X-C, Roberts KG, Valadao JM. Foot-strike pattern and performance in a marathon. Int J Sports Phys Perform 2013; 8: 286-292
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Kulmala JP, Avela J, Pasanen K, Parkkari J. Forefoot strikers exhibit lower running-induced knee loading than rearfoot strikers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2013; 45: 2306-2313
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Lankhorst NE, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Van Middlekoop M. Risk factors for patellofemoral pain syndrome: A systematic review. J Sports Orthrop Sports Phys Ther 2012; 42: 81-94
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, Daoud AI, D’Andrea S, Davis IS, Mang’eni RO, Pitsiladis Y. Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. Nature 2010; 463: 531-535
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Morgan DW, Martin PE, Krahenbuhl GS. Factors affecting running economy. Sports Med 1989; 7: 310-330
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Nummela A, Keranen T, Mikkelsson LO. Factors related to top running speed and economy. Int J Sports Med 2007; 28: 655-661
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Pate RR, Macera CA, Bailey SP, Bartoli WP, Powell KE. Physiological, anthropometric, and training correlates of running economy. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1992; 24: 1128-1133
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Perl DP, Daoud AI, Lieberman DE. Effects of footwear and strike type on running economy. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012; 44: 1335-1343
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Petersen W, Ellermann A, Gosele-Koppenburg A, Best R, Rembitzki IV, Bruggermann GP, Liebau C. Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. [Internet] 2013; [cited 2015 May 9] DOI: 10.1007/s00167-013-2759-6.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Roper JL, Dufek JS, Mermier CM. Gait retraining with foot strike patterns as management for patellofemoral pain syndrome: A brief review. Int J Sports Sci 2014; 4: 181-187
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Roper JL, Harding EM, Doerfler D, Dexter JG, Kravitz L, Dufek JS, Mermier CM. The effects of gait retraining in runners with patellofemoral pain: a randomized trial. Clin Biomech 2016; 35: 14-22
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Saunders PU, Pyne DB, Telford RD, Hawley JA. Factors affecting running economy in trained distance runners. Sports Med 2004; 34: 465-485
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Shih Y, Lin K-L, Shiang T-Y. Is the footstrike pattern more important than barefoot or shod conditions in running?. Gait Posture 2013; 38: 490-494
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Spurrs RW, Murphy AJ, Watsford ML. The effect of plyometric training on distance running performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 1-7
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Squadrone R, Gallozzi C. Biomechanical and physiological comparison of barefoot and two shod conditions in experienced barefoot runners. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2009; 49: 6-13
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Taunton JE, Ryan MB, Clement DB, McKenzie DC, Lloyd-Smith DR, Zumbo BD. A retrospective case-control analysis of 2002 running injuries. Br J Sports Med 2002 36: 95-101
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Vannatta CN, Kernozek TW. Patellofemoral joint stress during running with alterations in foot strike pattern. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2015; 47: 1001-1008
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Warne JP, Warrington GD. Four-week habituation to simulated barefoot running improves running economy when compared with shod running. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2014; 24: 563-568
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Weiss K, Whatman C. Biomechanics associated with patellofemoral pain and ACL injuries in sports. Sports Med 2015; 45: 1325-1337
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar